Beam doffing mechanism



''. F. SUGQS BEAM DOFFING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet l www R S ww n m5. WF T [n T d 0H A m M Nam w49 Filed Nov. 15, 1,946

Nmx EQ@ T. F. SUGGS y BEAM DOFFING MEGHANISM AFiled Nov. 1s, 194s W10/WSE Szlggs, BY @14j/w ATTORNEYS.

Nw; E949l T. F. suGGs 473492 A BEAM DOFFING MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 13, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fla@ W1 TNEssEs INVENTOR:

WMI/msi! Suggs,

@www 2 I WM BY T. F. Suse@ BEAM DOFFING MECHANISM Nvo E49 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov, 13,V 94e INVENToR: Zim/WSE Sugg?,

BY ATTORNEYS.

JW 0% M Patented Nov. 8, 1,949

BEAM DOFFING MECHANISM Thomas F. Suggs, Gastonia, N.

Cocker Machine and Foundry Company, tonia, N. C., a corpora C., assignor to Gastion of North Carolina Application November 13, 1946, Serial No. '709,638

6 Claims.

This invention has general reference to warping machines and, more particularly, relates to the species or form thereof generally known as section-beam warpers including means for rotatively sustaining a beam on which the yarns are wound.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel form of motorized dofng device for association in beam warpers of the above noted species, whereby the beam when illed with yarn is lowered for removal, and re-elevated after replacement by an empty beam.

Another object is to provide an electrical-system including movement controlling and limiting switches whereby operation of the warping machine, when the beam is in doiiing position, cannot take place.

While the foregoing objects are indicative in a general way of the fundamental aims of this invention, other objects with ancillary advantages will be evident to those skilled in the art, upon a full understanding of the construction, combination and arrangement of the means hereinafter disclosed; but it will also be appreciated that the invention is susceptible ofother embodiment, or modified form, than that typically illustrated by the accompanying sheetsv of drawings, and more lparticularly dened in the concluding claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side warping machine provements in accordance with and,

Figs. 2-7 inclusive are consecutive wiring diagrams of the electrically-controlled means whereby the machine of Fig. 1 may be operated, and each of which diagrams is hereinafter fully explained.

In describing the form of this invention exempliiied by the drawings herewith, specic terms will be employed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood the scope of said invention is not thereby limited; each such term being intended to embrace all reasonable equivalents which perform the same function for an analogous purpose.

Referring more in detail to the drawings and iirst to Fig. 1 the referencecharacter IIJ comprehensively designates a sectional beam, the spindle or shaft Il whereof is removably journaled in suitable `bearings I2; which in turn are carried by spaced arms I3, one only being visible in the drawing; while said arms I3 are respectively fulcrumed at I4 to the correspondingly elevation of a sectional beam embodying the mechanical imthis invention;

- `spaced side frames I5 of the warping machine,

Normally the beam supporting arms I3 occupy the vertical position shown in full lines or with the beam I0 elevated relative to oor level I6 and in which position said arms are retained by means of clamp-yokes I1, pivoted at IB, to the respectively associated side frame I5, so as to be pivotal downward 0r horizontal as shown, or swingable vertically upward to the dot-and-dash line position, over reduced projections I9 integral with, or at the free ends of, the arms I3 aforesaid. Each yoke I1 is fitted with a clamp-screw 20 operable by a hand-wheel 2l, or the like, and whereby the respective arms I3 are firmly secured in abutment against the confronting side edges of the frames I5, in an obvious manner.

For the purpose of lowering the arms I3 to doit after the sectional beam I0 has 'been fully wound with yarn, and to subsequently re-elevate the same into normal or upright position after mounting a fresh beam I0 for winding, I preferably utilize the mechanism now to be described. This mechanism includes a pair of spaced sprocket-wheels 22, one only being visible in the drawing, which are conveniently secured by means 23 to a shaft 24 extending transversely intermediate and journaled in the side-frames I5 of the machine. Each such sprocket-wheel 22 has appropriately attached thereto at 25, for instance, one end of a cooperative link-chain 26 which, in turn is trained over an idler 21, rotatively supported by suitable means 28 in the upper part of the adjoining side frame I5; whereas the other end of said chain 26 is connected at 23 to an associated screw-bolt 3U, adjustable in the outer end of the planarly-related arm I3; all as well understood by those conversant with the art.

Appropriately made fast to the outer end of the shaft 24, at one side of the machine, as by a key 3 I is aworm-gear 32 in mesh with the wormdrive 33 of a transmission-shaft 34, journaled in spaced bearings 35, said shaft being operatively coordinated by a worm-gear combination or couple 3B to the power shaft 3l of a reversible electric motor 38.

Stopping of the motor 38 at the proper times upon movement of the arms I3 downward for dofling, and on upward return thereof to normal or the active position for re-beaming with warps is automatically effected, in accordance with this invention through the medium of lower and upper limit-switches 39, 40, respectively, which as later on explained effect closure of Aelectric circuits through the motor 38. As shown,

the plunger 4I ofthe limit-switch 39 is arranged to be moved by the head 42 of an adjustable screw-bolt 43 carried by a laterally projecting bracket or lug 44 on, or secured to, the heel-portion 45 of the arm I3, adjacent its fulcrum I4; whereas the plunger 46 of the limit switch 46 is engageable by a projection or pad 41 near the outer or upper end of said arm I3. Starting of the motor 38 is effected, as hereinafter further amplified, by means of a safety-control or reversing-switch 48 at the top of one of the side frames I3, for example only, and said switch being conveniently equipped with raising and lowering push-buttons 49, 56 respectively.

Referring now, more particularly, to Figs. 2-6 inclusive which show how the improved doiiing mechanism of this invention is electrically controlled and activated, it is first to be noted that the safety-control or reversing-switch 48, as well as the associated limit-switches 39, 48 are supplied with current by lines I, 52 from a singlephase or 110v. source of electric current, not shown; whereas the reversible-motor 36, with its single magnetic-switch 53 and duplex-switches 54, 55, respectively, are served with current by lines 56, 51, 58 and lines 56', 51', and 58', from a multi-phase source of electric current, as readily understandable by those conversant with the art. It is also to be further noted that the beam supporting-arm or arms I3 are normally in the up, or neutral, position with no electric current influencing any one of the switches 48, 46, and 39, or the magnetic-switches 53, 54 and 55.

Still referring to Fig. 2 it is to be borne in mind that a primary circuit p-c is closed, as hereinafter indicated, through the main drive of the warper to rotate the sectional-beam I6, such drive not being shown as it forms no part of the present invention. This main drive or primary circuit p-c is conveniently set-up when the electric current is switched on, incidental to the limitswitch 49 being held closed by the arm I3, under retainer-action of the clamp-yoke I1, whereby a ow of current from the multi-phase source may be by way of the line 56 across the contacts 59 of said limit switch, to the coil 60 of magneticswitch 53 whereby the associated core 6I is held to the contacts 62 and therefrom through line 58, as indicated by the associated arrows.

Assuming now that the sectional beam I6 be full of yarn, ready for dofng, the operator first breaks the primary circuit p-c above explained, then releases and swings the clamp-yokes I1 up or into the dot-and-dash line position of Fig. 1, whereupon the down-button 50 is depressed to initiate the doing operation. Such depression of the button 50, into the position of Fig. 3, closes or completes a second circuit s-c from the 110-v. source of electric current through the feed line 5I-in the direction of the associated arrows-to the lower contact 63 across the reversing-switch 48 to the contacts 64, through the line 65'and across limit-switch 39, which is still closed, to the coil 66 of the duplex magnetic-switch 55, thereby energizing said coil to move the right-hand core 61 thereof from the neutral position of Fig. 2 into engagement with the lower contacts 68, while the left-hand core of said switch is mechanically and simultaneously elevated by an oscillatable or rockable coupler 61" into engagement with contacts 68', for reasons hereinafter explained. It is also to be noted that completion of the second circuit s-c, above referred to, is from the coil 66 by Way of a line 69, across the contacts of the magnetic-switch 53 to line 52. It will, of course, now be readily apparent that interruption of the 4 primary or warper main-drive circuit p-c deenergizes the coil 66 of the magnetic-switch 53 whereby the core 6I thereof automatically assumes the position shown in Fig. 3. At the same time it will be evident that incidental to bridging of the contacts 68, 68 of the switches 54, 55 by the associated cores 61, 61', a flow of current from the multiphase source closes, a circuit r-m--c through the reversible electric motor 38 as follows, for instance, by way of the line 58' branch 1I across contacts 68 and line 12 to motor 38 with rotation of the power-shaft 31 of the latter in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the curved arrow thereon, and return by way of branch 13 to line 56'; at the same time a corresponding flow of current in the same direction to the motor 38 takes place from line 51' by way of branch 14, across contacts 68' and line 15 through motor 38 to branch 13 and line 56. As a result of thus energizing the motor 38 it will be understood that the worm-gear couple 36 and transmission-shaft 34 will rotate clockwise, and that, through the worm-driver 33 and meshing gear 32 the transverse-shaft 24 will correspondingly rotate; whereby the respective link-chains 26 are gradually released and, due to the relatively outward vertical location of the axis of the sectional-beam Ill relative to that of the fulcrum or pivotal axis I4 ofthe spaced arms I3, said beam will commence to angularly recede from engagement with the side frames I5, in accordance with known practice. It is to be particularly noted, at this juncture, that the movable component 46 of the limit switch will automatically follow recession of the arms I3 into bridging engagement with the contacts 80, see Fig. 4, and, at the same time, effectively prevent re-starting of the warper means by positive breaking of the primary-circuit p-c or flow of current across the contacts 59 during the doiiing operation, while the secondary and reversible-motor circuits s-c and r-m-c continue closed until the head 42 of the adjuster-screw bolt 43 contacts the plunger 4I of the lower limit-switch 39, see Fig. 5. As the sectional beam I0 reaches floor-level I6 the plunger 4I' of the limit switch 39 automatically shifts from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5, whereby the aforementioned circuit s-c is opened with resultant de-energization of the coil 66 and simultaneous assuming by the cores 61, 61', through aid of the coupler 61", of therposition also shown in Fig. 2, in conformity with known practice and automatic stoppage of the motor 38, by opening of the circuit 58', 1I, 12, 13,

15 and 56' as readily understandable without further elaboration herein.

Assuming now that an empty sectional beam I0 'has been placed across the spaced arms I3, the operator depresses the up-button 49, in Fig. 6, to again close the second s-c circuit from the source of -v. current; when it will be seen that said circuit is completed from line 5I to lower contact 63 of switch 48, through loop 16, to and across the inner contacts 11 of said switch; thence to and across the outer contacts 18 of button 50 and line 19 to outer contacts 80 of limit-switch 40 and, via line 8|, to the left-hand coil 66' of limit-switch 54, with retraction of the core 61' thereof; While said circuit is completed by way of line 69, across limit switch contacts 1I) and line 52, as before set forth, and resultant rotation of the motor 38 in a counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by the curved arrow thereon. Upon completion of the s-c circuit just explained with energization of the coil 66 land retraction of the core 61' thereof it will be understood that the circuit r-m-c to the motor 38 is as follows. Starting from line 58 current will flow via branch 1I, lower contacts 82 of switch 54, and line 15 to motor 38, branch 13 and linel 565; as well as from line 51' via branch 14 to point 83 to and across upper contacts 84 to point 85, and line 12 to motor 38, and return branch 13 to line 56'.

Upon the motor 38 commencing to rotate counter-clockwise, with corresponding rotation of its power-shaft 31, and through consequential reverse rotation of the mechanisms 36, 34, 33, transverse shaft 24 and associated sprocketwheels 22 will be similarly turned, whereby the link-chains 26 will be gradually wound onto the said sprocket wheels 22. Incidental to windingup of the chains 26 the beam I0 will commence to angularly elevate on the fulcrum I4; while the plunger 4I of the limit switch 39 will follow such advancement until prevented from further coaction with the head 42 of the adjuster screwbolt 43, and resultant abutment across the contacts 86 of the limit-switch 39, see Fig. 7; while the secondary and reversible-motor circuits s-c and r-m-c remain closed until the pad 41 on the arm I3 engages the associated plunger 46 of the limit-switch 40 and forces said plunger inward, from the position shown by Fig. 7 to that of Fig. 2. Now it will be apparent that movement of the plunger 46 away from the contacts 80 breaks the elevating circuit s-c, with consequent interruption of the circuit r-m-c and stoppage of the motor 38, in view of deenergizing the coil 66', whereby the cores 61' and 61 automatically become restored to neutral position of Fig. 2, with all of the current-supply lines I, 52; 56, 51, 58; and 56', 51', 58 dead; whereupon the operator re-locks the pivotal arms I3 in the full-line position of Fig. 1 by aid of the clamp-yokes l1, as well understood from the preceding description thereof, ready for the inception of filling the empty beam I0, in the manner aforesaid. Incidentally it is noticeable that the limit switch 40 is only open when the beam I0 is being doifed, and the arms I3 are down to floor-level.

From the foregoing it is felt that the merits and advantages of the vinvention hereinbefore disclosed will be fully appreciated; and while there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof the same is not to be considered conclusive, seeing that sundry changes and variations may be effected by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of said invention, or exceeding the scope of the followingclaims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Beam dofling mechanism for a warping machine including fulcrumed normally vertical supports for rotatively sustaining a beam in elevated yarn receiving position outwardly relative to the fulcrum pivot point of said supports; a reversible power means; and means for selectively controlling starting of the power means to lower the supports for beam doiling, and to return the 6 same into vertical position after mounting an empty beam thereon.

2. Beam doffmg mechanism for a warping machine or the like including spaced beam supportings arms fulcrumed at their lower ends to the machine side frames and normally occupying an upright position with the beam elevated for reception of yarn, said beam having its axis of rotation located outward relative to the fulcrum axis of the supporting arms; reversible power means, a winding means arranged to be driven by the power means; and spaced flexible elements extending from the winding means and connected to the upper part of said arms.

3. Beam dofl'lng mechanism according to claim 2, further including releasable clamp means for engagement with the beam supporting arm upper ends to hold the latter normally in upright position.

4. Beam doing mechanism according to claim 2 in which the winding means is driven by the power means through worming gearing.

5. Beam dofflng mechanism for a warping machine or the like, including spaced supporting arms fulcrumed at their lower ends to the machine side frames and normally occupying an upright position in said machine with the beam elevated for reception of yarn, the axis of rotation of said beam being outwardly located relative to the fulcrum axis of the supporting arms; a reversible electric motor; a, power circuit with interposed means for controlling the motor; and operating means between the motor and the beam with flexible connections to the spaced supporting arms.

6. Beam doing mechanism according to claim 5, further including movement limiting switches in circuit with the motor and positioned respectively above and below the axis of the beam and the fulcrum axis of the supporting arms for actuation by said supporting arms to automatically stop the motor when the beam has been fully raised to active position in the machine, or lowered for the dofng of the beam.

THOMAS F. SUGGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 504,456 Rhoades Sept. 5, 1893 1,787,323 Reiners Dec. 30, 1930 1,795,506 Reiners et a1. Mar. 10, 1931 2,020,118 Kellett et al. s Nov. 5', 1935 2,142,777 Berry Jan. 3, 1939 2,382,760 Wiggerman Aug. 14, 1945 2,424,400 Kronofi July 22, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 668,554 Germany Dec. 5, 1938 783,984 France Apr. 15, 1935 

